Systems and methods for promotion of angiogenesis and adipogenesis in tissues through application of mechanical forces

Abstract

A system and method for promoting angiogenesis and adipogenesis in soft tissue using a tissue enlargement apparatus. The tissue enlargement apparatus includes an interface configured for affixation to the soft tissue. A force generating device is coupled to the interface by a connecting tube for applying mechanical forces to the soft tissue. A processor is coupled to the force generating device and is configured to apply intermittent cyclical patterns of the mechanical forces to the soft tissue to promote angiogenesis and adipogenesis in soft tissue. The intermittent cyclical patterns are based on at least one of duration, frequency, and intensity of the mechanical forces.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for promoting angiogenesis or adipogenesis of a tissue graft, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a force generating device to mechanically couple to a recipient site;   receiving, with a processor, a selection of a preconditioning process to perform on the recipient site;   with the processor, controlling the force generating device to perform the preconditioning process by applying mechanical forces configured to induce angiogenesis or adipogenesis in tissues at the recipient site; and   grafting the tissue graft at the recipient site.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the preconditioning process includes applying intermittent cyclical patterns of mechanical forces to the tissues at the recipient site. 
     
     
         23 . The method of claim 2 l, wherein applying the mechanical forces to the tissues at the recipient site by the force generating device includes providing suction forces between about 10 mmHg and about 125 mmHg. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the preconditioning process for applying mechanical forces to the tissues at the recipient site are based on at least one of a ratio between off suction and on suction varying between 1 hour/30 minutes and 4 hours/60 minutes, a number of daily stimulations between 3 and 6, a total number of hours of stimulation daily being less than 6, an overall duration of treatment between 5 and 18 days, a pattern including 6 daily stimulations of 30 minutes each, followed by 1 hour breaks each for 5-9 days of treatment to induce angiogenesis, and stimulations patterns carried out with daily to every second day frequency to induce adipogenesis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising monitoring a micro-environment in the tissues at the recipient site to determine whether the preconditioning process of the mechanical forces are selected for promoting angiogenesis and adipogenesis in the tissues at the recipient site. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising analyzing how the mechanical forces are distributed in the tissues at the recipient site when the preconditioning process is below a predetermined efficiency. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising a step of monitoring a micro-environment in the tissues at the recipient site using at least one of a pressure sensor, a biosensor, and a piezoelectric gauge. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of measuring at least one of temperature of the tissues at the recipient site, perfusion of the tissues at the recipient site, pO 2  of the tissues at the recipient site, and pCO 2  of the tissues at the recipient site using the piezoelectric gauge. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting the preconditioning process to raise the mechanical forces distributed in the tissues at the recipient site above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue graft is an autologous graft. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of implementing a drug release system controlled and monitored by the processor and configured to release drugs over preprogrammed times in the tissues at the recipient site. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for promoting angiogenesis or adiposgenesis of a tissue graft, the device comprising:
 an interface configured for affixation to a recipient site for a tissue graft;   a force generating device coupled to the interface for applying mechanical forces the recipient site;   a processor coupled to the force generating device and configured to apply a preconditioning process on the recipient site;   with the processor, controlling the force generating device to perform the preconditioning process by applying mechanical forces configured to induce angiogenesis or adipogenesis in tissues at the recipient site.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the interface is characterized by at least one a concave-shaped, a dome-shaped, a cup-shaped, and a sponge-shaped structure. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the sponge-shaped structure interface includes a plurality of pores positioned thereon to match morphological characteristics of the recipient site based on finite element modeling carried out by the processor to predict mechanical response of the tissues at the recipient site. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the interface is constructed from at least one of a polymeric and metallic material. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the preconditioning process includes applying intermittent cyclical patterns of mechanical forces to the tissues at recipient site. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein applying the mechanical forces to the tissues at the recipient site by the force generating device includes providing suction forces between about 10 mmHg and about 125 mmHg. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the preconditioning process for applying mechanical forces to the tissues at the recipient site are based on at least one of a ratio between off suction and on suction varying between 1 hour/30 minutes and 4 hours/60 minutes, a number of daily stimulations between 3 and 6, a total number of hours of stimulation daily being less than 6, an overall duration of treatment between 5 and 18 days, a pattern including 6 daily stimulations of 30 minutes each, followed by 1 hour breaks each for 5-9 days of treatment to induce angiogenesis, and stimulations patterns carried out with daily to every second day frequency to induce adipogenesis. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor, a biosensor, and a piezoelectric gauge for monitoring a micro-environment of the tissues at the recipient site. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the piezoelectric gauge is configured to measure at least one of temperature of the tissues at the recipient site, perfusion of the tissues at the recipient site, pO2 of the tissues at the recipient site, and pCO2 of the tissues at the recipient size. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , where the interface is affixed at the recipient site using at least one of flexible laces and adhesive dressings to seal the interface at the recipient site. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a drug release system controlled and monitored by the processor and configured to release drugs over preprogrammed times in the tissues at the recipient site. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is configured to apply at least one of finite element analysis and finite element modeling to analyze how the mechanical forces are distributed at the recipient site based on mechanical properties of at the recipient site to exploit a mitogenic pathway for improved angiogenesis and adipogenesis.